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After the solid compensator install, I was getting some crazy loud noise from the primary, kind of a whacking/metal whirl sound that I can’t really describe. It overpowered my exhaust note.
I took it back to the shop who recommended it and asked what’s up with the new noise. The mechanic test rode it and said all sounded normal, and that my helmet was probably amplifying sounds. There was no way a competent mechanic could say that was a normal Harley sound though, so I had some major red flags on the whole project. Rode without my helmet and it was even LOUDER.
Took it to another shop that specializes in building Harley engines and they immediately could tell something wasn’t right. Turns out the previous shop didn’t align the primary chain and it ended up being 5/16’ off the shoe. My chain was basically slapping the hell out of the cover because everything was so loose and wobbly, and the solid compensator didn’t spin true anymore. He put back in a stock compensator he had at the shop, and I had to replace the chain and put in a baker manual adjuster. The plan is to put in the Baker compensator once they have it back in stock.
He also said putting a solid compensator on a stock Harley engine is a really stupid idea because of the hollow pin, he said he’d only put that on an S&S motor (and does often). I trust his opinion wayyy more that the previous shop who botched that job, so up to you guys on what you want to do on your own bikes.
I’m not naming the previous shop since they said they’d “stand by all their work and will make things right with me” but I’m not overly happy about having to pay for the same damn job two times.
I know it's an old post, just come across it . But I've been running a solid compensator on my 07 fxstc for approx last 2 years, done about 11000 miles on solid comp from drag. bike done total of 68000 mls. No engine problems. Installed a Hayden primary tensioner about 4 years back.
Was the guy an actual mechanic or the usual parts swapper that passes for a mechanic today? There is a difference and if you understood the physics behind what a compensator does, the ratio's involved and the lame crank's harley uses it wouldn't be a point of contention. A solid comp sprocket is going to hammer the crank and trans bearings, it's when something will fail not if . All depends on the rider, the bike and riding style.
Funny thing is when the gearing ratio was lower in the primaries you never heard of a comp going bad, get your head around that........
how long will it last? Its mechanical all things will break eventually. I am really hard on my 15 rgs that I built. I am on a stock crank with 125hp and tq and 32t solid comp at 40k miles so far. oh yeah I also do wheelies and constant burn outs and bang gears every day. My shift points are abit over 4k rpms. All the doom and gloom I hear from the forum hasn't come true. Oh also have a 07 dyna and the bike is treated the same with the same build and no issues there. Maybe I got lucky twice.
how many years have people been using belt drives? the one i used (Primo) to have had a solid comp. never had any issues.
no solid comp problems to report
With everything you take your chances with some having odds better than others. You can have a bottom end failure with a compensator on a motor with a mild mod. My stock stage 2 with compensator had crank / con rod failure. Don't know what went wrong but here are some pics of the pieces. It was painfully expensive but the rebuilt motor runs great (so far). Independent mech / tech said it was a rare failure. Before the failure there was the odd banging nasty start. With the rebuild engine starts are very clean. Rebuild has the latest compensator (those things are a massive chunk of iron) with a trued / welded crank.
Arrow points to rub from fly wheel spun wrist pin bushing Thrust washers, one still there and remains of the other one.
the slight whirl, is how nine sounds too. With the 32 tooth I cruise at 80 a little over 3000 rpm, and takeoff/low speed manners are even better. This is on a 124 inch 640 cammed breakout. No complains except traction can be a problem😏 glad to hear you are up and running and enjoying it👍
Originally Posted by Torpedo1
Been installed a week now. My primary chain tensioner was trashed, so that was replaced as well along with my clutch hub and inner primary bearings.
Start ups are crazy fast now, no hesitation at all. It's immediate from the time you press the starter. Didn't notice any difference at all during low speed riding, and no excessive vibration at cruising speeds. No "rocks shaking in a cardboard box" sound anymore at shutdown either.
The only thing I noticed was a more pronounced "whirly" sound from the primary. I believe it's the primary chain tensioner shoe breaking in though, not the compensator sprocket itself. Don't know if that's a "thing", just my guess.
Need some more miles on it, but all seems good so far.
Honestly, with 62k on the clock, if the crankshaft ends up scissoring, I'll just rebuild it to be bulletproof moving forward. I got a sweet deal on the bike, so even with a rebuild I'd be wayyy under the price of a new Road King anyway. Win-win for me.
Appreciate all the comments so far.
Just curious, what tensioner are you running? I made the switch to a solid sprocket last summer and my Indy put in the Hayden M6 I think but my chain seems to get sloppy when the bike is hot. The only thing I can think of is the tensioner needs to be fixed like the SE type.
Been through 2 compensators and a first generation Baker which I need to get warrantied. Currently am running a modified SE older compensator without the oil trays BUT added an extra spring in the assembly. No problems since and am running a pretty hot 107, (S&S crankshaft).
No worries, as per usual all the exp here will come from those that have no exp with going to just a sprocket.
They will repeat the internet chatter and their fingers will just be poping the words.
From an engineering point of view with lots f numbers and stufffff.-
It comes dwn to two things
Power pulses, and low-speed absorptions.
(RPM divided two) broken dwn onto seconds if you want.
No matter what you do you have just two cylinders made to fire unevenly.
Almost end of subject.!
But for Now-
To get rid of the power stroke shock pulse Hd has used many types of comps.
Replacing them with just a sprocket has been a go-to for years and works well.
I know of no one that has broken anythng ever.
Shifting would be unchanged as the clutch is still the same and matching the dwn shift is all the same
.All that happened is now the engine is a little more direct tp the transmission.
Go for it and tell us how it goes.
I think you will like it a lot, and HD will miss out selling you a 600 dollar part again and again.
